What's The Difference Between Chocolate Pudding And Mousse?

Chocolate desserts are some of the most beloved in the pastry world, known for ranging from thick and creamy to airy and comforting, yet always delicious. A main feature of chocolate desserts is how they incorporate both pudding and mousse, usually as an accompaniment to a hefty layer of cake or brownies. While the terms seem interchangeable and are commonly believed to describe the same or similar things, mousse and pudding are different entities that each serve their own role in the dessert world.

There are a few main differences between mousse and pudding, primarily their ingredients and how they are cooked. Even though the ingredients are relatively similar, the way they're prepared results in two very different textures that shape the whole dessert. Chocolate pudding is thicker and denser, much like the Jell-O instant pudding mixes and cups you can find in the grocery store. Meanwhile, chocolate mousse is light and airy — think of it like whipped cream's chocolate cousin. Both are tasty in their own right, but are simply better suited to different kinds of desserts or even sometimes eaten on their own. Knowing the difference between these two baking staples will not only help you order the right desserts, but make the most of your at-home baking experiences.

Chocolate pudding is typically made with cream or milk, sugar, chocolate, and most importantly, a thickening agent like cornstarch or flour. The cornstarch is the key ingredient that makes pudding unique to mousse, as it contributes to that dense yet still creamy texture. But to get it to that state, the other key difference between the two comes into play: heat. Chocolate pudding must be heated up on a stove to activate the thickeners before adding the chocolate so it mixes into the right consistency. It's not like toffee which needs to come to a boil, but must be hot enough to melt all the ingredients together. Note that you use the same heating method for making a vegan-friendly avocado chocolate pudding, since the thickening agent will still need to activate in order to be considered pudding.

Since chocolate pudding is thick and creamy, it acts as a great layer to put within a dessert rather than on top. You can use it as the base for a classic kids' dessert like Worms in Dirt — pudding topped with crushed Oreos and gummy worms. Or for a more elevated dish, a devil's food trifle combines layers of devil's food cake and homemade pudding for a decadent dish perfect for individual servings. The pudding will enhance the moisture of the dish and give you that silky and creamy effect that frosting can't always give you. This type of dish perfectly showcases how the density of pudding gives it a special flare.

In French, the word mousse means "foam" or "froth," hinting as to what chocolate mousse is going to resemble. This light and airy chocolate dessert includes similar ingredients to pudding, like sugar, chocolate, and heavy cream. However, it does not have a thickening agent and uses separated egg whites and yolks instead. The key to making mousse is not heating it up, but rather whipping the ingredients at room temperature. Note that you can both under and over-whip your mousse, which can cause it to be watery or grainy respectively. To know you've whipped it just the right amount, look for stiff peaks to form when you lift your mixer out of the batter. You can also work on stabilizing your whipped cream to get the best texture for your mousse.

Chocolate mousse is a great dessert to enjoy on its own with its delicate taste and texture. Pair it with bright and tangy berries to complement the lighter mousse, and fresh raspberries or chocolate strawberries can be a great garnish. Chocolate mousse is also the perfect top layer of a cake that enhances the chocolatey flavor without weighing down the dish. Top the mousse with a sprinkling of cocoa powder to add a bold finish that sits perfectly on the whipped cream. Chocolate mousse is a great dessert to, literally, whip up in a jiffy if pudding takes too much time. But each will make your dessert course stand out and burst with that rich chocolate flavor we all know and love.